We’ve looked at the microbiome in eczema and now focus has turned to the microbiome in acne.   [Dréno B, Dagnelie MA, Khammari A et al.  The Skin Microbiome : A New Actor in Inflammatory Acne.  Am J Clin Dermatol 2020;21(Suppl 1):S18-S24.]   We know that the organism … [Read More...] about Ecobiological treatments for acne

January in the northern hemisphere is hardly the time to be stocking up on sunscreens.  We do actually keep a fully stocked, big bag of sunscreens by the back door for everyone to have access to before they go out.  It also makes it easier when we go on holiday for me to just slot that bag in a … [Read More...] about Anyone dreaming of a holiday?

When Lockdown Version 1 happened, my hair really suffered, like I’m sure a lot of you.  We were unprepared and then when we realised it was going to last several months, getting hold of home haircut sets and hair dye was virtually impossible.  My family eventually settled for our version of a ‘Home … [Read More...] about The environmental benefits of getting your hair cut

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been non-stop talk of a vaccine for SARS CoV-2 which will put this whole coronavirus episode behind us and allow us to move forwards.  At the time of writing, there are hopes that a potential vaccine will be available from December of this year.  In the … [Read More...] about The environmental impact of a vaccine

We personally were relieved when the kids went back to school.  Yes, we were worried about them catching coronavirus and passing it on and then we were worried about the societal impact of children going back to school and the numbers of cases escalating across the country as a whole.  However, we … [Read More...] about Let the learning continue…

My youngest enjoys his swimming and partakes in a local swimming club on a rather regular basis.  With the easing of lockdown in the UK, his club restarted a few weeks ago.  He was especially jubilant, his siblings were a little jealous (as it was hot and the pool looked so inviting) and we, as … [Read More...] about Pool palms

Many of us with school age children will have experienced the peculiar ‘delight’ of having to homeschool our children during lockdown.    For the majority of us, whose only stress used to involve the dropping off and picking up, ensuring their uniform was clean and fitted, together with … [Read More...] about The ‘joys’ and perils of homeschooling in lockdown.

Since the coronavirus pandemic started, we’ve all heard of how children are disproportionately protected from severe disease and then we started hearing that adult women were more protected than adult men from severe disease. [Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, Liang WH, Ou CQ, et al. Clinical characteristics … [Read More...] about The downsides of being manly in COVID-19

At the time of writing, we are in a state of “eased” lockdown; things aren’t as strict as they have been but we should all still stay at home as much as we can and if we must go out, we should practice social distancing and stay 2 metres away from people who are not from our own household.  Time … [Read More...] about COVID toe

At the time of writing this blog, we are in the middle of lockdown with the prospect of possibly another 3-4 weeks of lockdown to continue.  We should all hopefully be observing the government advice of staying at home as much as possible, only venturing out once a day if we need to exercise, get … [Read More...] about Hand washing in a pandemic

Once upon a time we had one child and we enrolled him as a toddler in various activity clubs in the area to get him out and socialising with other toddlers and also to get me out and socialising with other mums.  I don’t think this is an uncommon thing in modern times.  Now we have … [Read More...] about Allergy to taekwondo

Dry January, Veganuary…, it’s been a bit of a quiet month for us with many an evening tucked up on the sofa watching a brief something on Netflix.  On the recommendation of certain work colleagues (and even the eldest of my children – blush!), we were directed towards a short Netflix series … [Read More...] about Advances in skin cancer chemoprevention

This is the month of Brexit, whereupon Boris Johnson can now pass the legislation required to implement his withdrawal agreement so that Britain can exit the European Union on January 31st.  Thereafter, trade agreements need to sorted out to ensure that goods and services can enter and leave … [Read More...] about Antibiotics in our food?

What did 2019 hold for you?  Was it a good year or a dreadful year?  For us, as I’m sure it has been for most people, it’s been a real mixed bag with highs and lows but you know, when there are hard times, it is always helpful to remember all the things that are precious and good in our … [Read More...] about Every cloud has a silver lining…